2026 NFL Mock Draft: Three QBs go in the first round
Like the Super Bowl, the NFL draft is a uniquely boring event that generates more hype than it could ever deserve.
But what if the 2026 version was actually fun? With only one possible franchise quarterback on the board, one team could put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons on day one. One can only hope.
1. Miami Dolphins
TRADE! The Dolphins send #11, #43 and a 2027 1st round pick to the Raiders for #1 overall and #134
Fernando Mendoza - QB, Indiana
If one team needs to kickstart their rebuild, it’s the Dolphins. They can do that by trading up in the 2026 draft.
If Miami offer their 2026 11th and 43rd overall pick, along with a 2027 first round pick, the Raiders should give up the first overall pick plus the 134 overall pick. The Dolphins can take Fernando Mendoza with the number one pick.
Geno Smith costs the Raiders $26.5 million in 2026; even if they cut him, they might as well play him.
Mendoza is this year’s Tyler Shough. That means he’s far from a sure thing, but if he gets to sit for the first seven weeks of the season and is coached up by Kellen Moore, he’ll become a successful NFL quarterback. Technically, Jeff Hafley is no Kellen Moore, but everyone in Miami is done with Tua!
New Dolphins GM, Jon-Eric Sullivan, will want to win the popularity contest early doors. What better way to do that than by drafting a Miami kid who just won the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship?
2. New York Jets
Trinidad Chambliss - QB, Ole Miss
You might think that a team that failed to make a single interception in 2025 should improve their defensive backfield, but this is the Jets. They’ll draft a Sauce Gardner replacement later.
It would have been Dante Moore if he hadn’t decided to spend another year in Oregon (and you would, wouldn’t you? The Pacific Northwest is gorgeous). But continuing Gang Green’s long-standing tradition of selecting mobile quarterbacks who aren’t going to make it in the NFL, Woody Johnson takes Trinidad Chambliss.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Carson Beck - QB, Miami
Carson Beck is the anti-Kyler Murray. Anyone who watched the 23-year-old play at Georgia will tell you that he shouldn’t be anywhere near the first round. But after moving to Miami for the princely sum of $3.1 million, he’s matured into a quarterback who knows when to let the ball and when to sensibly dump it off.
That’s exactly the type of QB you need when you’ve got Trey McBride lined up at tight end.
4. Tennessee Titans
Caleb Downs - S, Ohio State
Only four teams conceded more points than the Titans in 2025, and that’s not supposed to happen to a defense that has Jeffery Simmons up front. While the defensive front was ok, the defensive backfield was an absolute disaster!
Only the Dolphins allowed a higher pass completion rate than the Titans, and no team allowed more than their 8.2 yards per completion!
Tennessee could use two new cornerbacks, but a safety who can cover receivers and anticipate throws will go a long way to help.
Downs played 44 games in his three years in college and was one of Ohio State’s captains in his junior year. The younger brother of Josh (and nephew of Dre Bly) has such a high football IQ that he will improve the players around him.
5. New York Giants
Vega Ioane - IOL, Penn State
John Harbaugh successfully drafted defensive players (and Lamar Jackson). But if the 63-year-old learned anything in his final two years in Baltimore, it should be that an elite quarterback needs an elite offensive line.
With Todd Monken moving to New York alongside Harbaugh, the Giants are going to try to run the ball. They are going to need to improve the run blocking if they are to succeed, and Vega Ioane will do that. The 330-pounder moves defenders with ease, creating clean running lanes.
6. Cleveland Browns
Kadyn Proctor - OT, Alabama
Even after they traded for Cam Robinson, PFF ranked the Browns’ offensive line as the 31st best in the league! Six teams allowed more sacks than Cleveland, but the Browns’ run blocking only allowed them to gain 97 yards per game.
Chopping and changing quarterbacks didn’t help, and with a new head coach arriving for the 2026 season, that may happen again. But they can shore up the offensive line in the draft.
Alabama tackle, Kadyn Proctor, is a great pass blocker who will help keep the QB upright.
7. Washington Commanders
Keldric Faulk - EDGE, Auburn
Don’t believe the Rueben Bain hype. The Miami EDGE defender is going to be a great situational pass rush guy, but the NFL is littered with 6-foot 3, 275-pound guys who destroyed left tackles in college. He’ll be fine, but he won’t add first-round value to a defense.
Keldric Faulk will. He’s long, powerful and quick. The Commanders did record 42 sacks in 2025, but that ranked 12th in the league and is 26 fewer than the league-leading Broncos!
There’s a lot of James Pearce Jr. in Faulk’s play; Bain could well be 2026’s answer to Abdul Carter. Carter was adored by everyone pre-Draft, but had a mixed bag of a rookie year with just four sacks. Pearce Jr., on the other hand, was one of the stars of Jeff Ulbrich’s Atlanta defense, recording 10.5 sacks and defending five passes.
8. New Orleans Saints
Jeremiyah Love - RB, Notre Dame
The Saints’ offense needs two things: a new Alvin Kamara and an upgraded offensive line.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love could very well be the next Alvin Kamara. Caleb Lomu would be the perfect fit for Kellen Moore’s offensive line, but you can’t pass up a running back who averaged 7.0 yards a touch across 41 games in college!
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE, Miami
The Chiefs have plenty of problems, but with Patrick Mahomes unlikely to be up to full speed come September, they should concentrate on fixing the defense in the draft. Rueben Bain Jr. helped the Miami Hurricanes make an unexpected run to the NCAA National Championship game.
Bain Jr. will complement George Karlaftis and prevent offensive lines from focusing all their energy on stopping Chris Jones.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Arvell Reese - LB, Ohio State
Apart from the passing attack, the Bengals are dreadful. Coaching seems to be a real problem. When the ownership appears to think that a team that gave up more rushing yards than any other team and ranked 29th for running the ball is fine, ownership is the biggest issue.
Arvell Reese was great on an overload blitz at Ohio State, but NFL offensive lines aren’t going to fall for that. Reese is an elite athlete who will fit any NFL defense. He has the burst to beat linemen when he rushes the passer and he never stops hustling to the ball.
11. Las Vegas Raiders
Francis Mauigoa - OT, Miami
The Raiders need a lot in this draft, luckily they have 10 picks. PFF ranked their offensive line as the worst in the league, so they should probably start there.
Francis Mauigoa, the Miami tackle, is one of the best pass blockers in this class, but can get a bit grabby in the run game.
12. Dallas Cowboys
David Bailey - EDGE, Texas Tech
This might finally be the year that Jerry Jones doesn’t draft an offensive lineman named Tyler in the first round. At least it should, the Cowboys have already got nine offensive linemen.
Only six teams had fewer sacks than Dallas did after Jerry decided Micah Parsons was too expensive. David Bailey will fix that.
The 22-year-old transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford for the 2025 season. He notched up 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss for the big-spending Red Raiders.
Bailey’s floor would be a perfect replacement for Jadeveon Clowney, who hits free agency in April. But his ceiling is the perfect accompaniment for Donovan Ezeiruaku as the Cowboys discover the new DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis.
13. Los Angeles Rams
Caleb Lomu - OT, Utah
Whom the Rams draft will depend on who, if anyone, retires at the end of the season.
Offensive line depth has been somewhat of an issue in 2025. If nobody retires, Les Snead will be tempted to take one of the talented linemen in this class. Caleb Lomu might be the best all-around blocker in this draft.
14. Baltimore Ravens
Peter Woods - IDL, Clemson
The Ravens have a lot of issues (one less now that Todd Monken is frustrating Jaxson Dart and not Lamar Jackson), but still plenty of needs. 17 of their current players become unrestricted free agents in April, and five are defensive linemen!
Baltimore hasn’t drafted a first-round defensive lineman since they took Haloti Ngata in 2006! Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods is a smaller lineman, but his versatility and athleticism mean he could line up anywhere along the line.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Avieon Terrell - CB, Clemson
The Buccaneers have wide receivers for days and Bucky Irving to carry the ball, but they need some more speed on their defense. Avieon Terrell can bring that in spades, and he can really defend.
A.J.’s younger brother followed in his footsteps, playing cornerback at Clemson. Avieon is faster than A.J. and is known for bringing the boom when he tackles. He didn’t record an interception in his junior year, but he had three sacks and forced five fumbles!
16. New York Jets
Jermod McCoy - CB, Tennessee
Jermod McCoy might be a walking taunting penalty, but in a way, that’s exactly what the Jets defense needs. Aaron Glenn’s guys need a spark plug, and McCoy is certainly that. The 20-year-old is a clone of Joey Porter Jr.
The former Oregon State Beaver racked up six interceptions, 42 tackles, and a tackle for a loss with a fumble recovery in just 25 college games. He might even calm down a bit as he gets older.
17. Detroit Lions
Monroe Freeling - OT, Georgia
The Lions need offensive linemen, not because they have bad linemen, but because 30% of their offensive line is over the age of 30!
Monroe Freeling is very Dan Campbell-coded. The Georgia Bulldog is 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds! The Lions drafted Tate Ratledge in 2025; taking his college teammate in 2026 makes sense.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Emmanuel Pregnon - OT, Oregon
So many things went wrong for the Vikings in 2025, it’s hard to know where to begin. If they can protect J.J. McCarthy, they could have an acceptable starting quarterback on their hands, and Justin Jefferson can have a bounce-back 2026.
Emmanuel Pregnon isn’t the biggest offensive lineman in the draft, but he might be the most powerful. He will improve the Vikings’ pass protection and their run blocking. Now Kevin O’Connell just needs to fix the rest of the team!
19. Carolina Panthers
Spencer Fano - OT, Utah
Dave Canales’ Panthers team are simultaneously dreadful and the reigning NFC South Champions. They could use a lot of upgrades.
Five offensive linemen could leave in free agency, too, so they could start there. Spencer Fano is the highest-ranked lineman in the draft, according to some, but Utah’s schedule makes it difficult to know exactly how good he is.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Colton Hood - CB, Tennessee
The Cowboys’ pass defense finished 32nd in the league, so they need more than just pass rush in the first round!
Four cornerbacks could leave as free agents (two are ERFA’s, though, so they should stay), and Kaiir Elam is a disaster waiting to happen. Colton Hood is a very physical corner who is very comfortable in zone coverage. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker is credited with developing Quinyon Mitchell, who is the same size and profile as Hood.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
A.J. Haulcy - S, LSU
It’s tricky to know what the Steelers need to fix beyond “something is a bit off here”. Jalen Ramsey is old, though, and seven defensive backs are about to hit free agency!
A.J. Haulcy already tackles like a Steeler. The LSU safety plays a lot bigger than he is, and at 222 pounds, he’s pretty big!
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Barion Brown - WR, LSU
If you blindfolded Jim Harbaugh and left him in the middle of Death Valley, he’d still come home with a 6-foot-8 offensive lineman. Don’t rule out Isaiah World out in this spot, but he should still be available when the Chargers’ second-round pick rolls around.
Los Angeles only has five picks in this draft (but $85 million to spend in free agency), and with Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, they need more speed on that offense.
Barion Brown would be a bit of a reach as a first-round pick, but his 4.28 40 speed is going to stretch the field and open up some space for the running backs, Ladd McConkey, Oronde Gadsden II and Tre Harris.
23. Phliadelphia Eagles
Makai Lemon - WR, USC
When A.J. Brown is traded (or holds out because they won’t trade him), they’re going to need a new wide receiver. Makai Lemon is very Nick Sirianni-coded.
21-year-old Lemon isn’t going to be a deep threat (they already have Devonta Smith for that), but he is incredibly strong. The 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner loves a contested catch and will put his body on the line to block for others.
24. Cleveland Browns
Chris Bell - WR, Louisville
If the Eagles need to draft a receiver, then the Browns need to draft about three of them. For all the bellyaching about who was lining up under centre, the Browns receivers conspired to drop 16 passes in 2025. Jerry Jeudy alone dropped 9.4% of his targets!
Louisville’s Chris Bell can fix that problem. According to PFF, Bell dropped just three of his 106 targets in 2025, or 2.8% of his targets!
25. Chicago Bears
Kayden McDonald - IDL, Ohio State
Chicago doesn’t really have many problems to address in the draft, but they have 20 players becoming unrestricted free agents.
Five of those guys play on the defensive line. Chicago could use some help when it comes to stopping the run. Kayden McDonald will help them do that. The Ohio State defensive tackle projects as a one-technique in a 4-3 defense and he’s great at moving blockers to narrow run lanes.
26. Buffalo Bills
Denzel Boston - WR, Washington
Imagine being Keon Coleman, after his initial press conference in Buffalo, the press and fans adored him and the story about buying a warm coat in Macy’s. Now he’s become the subject of an argument about who drafted him.
Joe Brady needs to rebuild Coleman’s confidence, but he also needs to add some depth to their receiving corps. Coleman, Tyrel Shavers and Khalil Shakir could become the foundation of a dangerous receiving corps. But when you sign Josh Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Gabe Davis and Brandin Cooks, your roster construction skills are way off!
Washington Huskie, Denzel Boston, is essentially Keon Coleman’s size but a bit faster. A bit of friendly competition (and another receiver under the age of 22) should bring the best out of Coleman.
27. San Francisco 49ers
K.C. Concepcion - WR, Texas A&M
You know it’s time to rebuild your receiving corps when Skyy Moore livens up the aforementioned receiving corps!
Ricky Pearsall is great when he’s healthy, Brandon Aiyuk has disappeared off the face of the earth, and four receivers could leave in free agency. There’s only one thing for it: draft KC Concepcion.
28. Houston Texans
Caleb Banks - IDL, Florida
Six defensive linemen are heading to free agency in Houston, and they project to be $14 million over the salary cap. Caleb Banks is 6-foot-6, 329 pounds and much faster than anyone that size should be.
29. Los Angeles Rams
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Rams’ young roster means they have over $46 million to spend in free agency! They also don’t really have any pressing needs to address, but they do have four cornerbacks out of contract.
San Diego State’s Chris Johnson is a cornerback who can do a bit of everything. He plays sticky coverage, can drop into zone, and makes plays at the catch point. California native Johnson can even make plays as a blitzer. Johnson will be right at home in the Rams’ defense, whomever their new coordinator is.
30. Denver Broncos
Sonny Styles, Linebacker, Ohio State
Denver has one of the best-managed rosters in football. Just 11 players are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2026, and only John Franklin-Meyers, Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are key pieces.
Sean Payton could pick whomever he feels like in this spot. Let’s say he takes Sonny Styles, a 6-foot-3 linebacker from Ohio State who is always around the ball.
31. New England Patriots
Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
The Patriots have improved in every department under Mike Vrabel, so they will probably take the best player left on their board rather than filling a specific gap on the roster.
If he’s watched any tape at all, Vrabel already loves Lee Hunter. The Texas Tech defensive tackle can go straight through blocks and around linemen when they expect him to bullrush!
32. Seattle Seahawks
Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon
A.J. Barner is great at the tush-push and a very reliable pass catcher, but the Seahawks’ offense could use a tight end who can actually run away from defenders. Kenyon Sadiq can absolutely do that. He only caught 80 passes at Oregon, but 11 of them went for touchdowns!